Gonzalez, eight counts of fraud-utter false instrument, eight counts of petit theft and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor

Hernandez, eight counts of fraud-utter false instrument, eight counts of petit theft, one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and violation of probation for dealing in stolen property from Hillsborough County

Pena, eight counts of fraud-utter false instrument, eight counts of petit theft, one count of providing a false name to a law enforcement official and one count of violation of probation for armed robbery from Hillsborough County

The minor was charged with four counts each of fraud-utter false instrument and petit theft.

Armes, Gonzalez, Hernandez, Pena and the teenager are from Tampa. Cancel is from Riverview.

According to Ocala Police Department reports, officer Kyle Howie was called to the CVS at 2401 SW 27th Ave. at 7:44 p.m. Tuesday because someone had phoned about a U-Haul van circling the parking lot with a number of people going in and out of the van at times.

Howie found the vehicle in the northeast part of the parking lot. He talked with Gonzalez and Hernandez, who, the officer said, had a large amount of money in his left hand.

Hernandez told the officer he was in Ocala to pick up a mattress from his niece and was returning to Tampa. He said he was at CVS to pick up some things. Hernandez said he and Gonzalez were the ones in the vehicle, reports state.

Howie looked inside the van, however, and saw someone asleep on a mattress in the back.

The officer checked Hernandez’s driver’s license and found that it had been suspended. Howie then talked with Pena, who was in the van, and he also detected the smell of marijuana. Howie was told the smell was from synthetic marijuana.

Under some pillows in the van, Howie discovered eight counterfeit bills, each with the same serial numbers. Also found were several bags from different grocery stores as well as bags of food from several businesses. Inside most of the bags was a receipt showing that the merchandise had been paid for with a $20 bill.

Additional officers were called while Howie continued to interview the occupants of the van. Gonzalez and Hernandez told Howie they did not know anything about the fraudulent money.

Sgt. Erica Hay and Officer David Rodriguez arrived and talked with Pena, who lied about his name.

Hay then noticed a juvenile walking up to the CVS. The 17-year-old girl admitted to knowing the occupants in the van. She said Hernandez and Gonzalez are a couple. She said two other two people were at Taco Bell, reports state.

Officers found Armes and Cancel at the eatery and they were detained.

Other officers went to nearby businesses, where they collected a number of fake $20 bills and also received surveillance videos that showed Pena and the juvenile entering stores, passing fake bills and leaving, the reports state.

The serial numbers on the $20 bills collected from the stores matched the numbers on the money in the van.

All six people were taken to OPD headquarters and were interviewed by Detective Casey Eades. The detective said he was told that the fraudulent money was used to make purchases and that all the change was given to Gonzalez.

Police confiscated $605.76 in cash — including $10s, $5s and $1s — from Hernandez and Gonzalez. Also taken into evidence were credit cards, clothing, synthetic marijuana, a mask, food, hygiene products and more.

While he was being booked at the jail, police said they found four fake $20 bills in the possession of Armes.

Police said they are checking with other agencies to see if there any similar cases have been reported.

Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.

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